Hong Kong government spends HK$7.4 million in global advertising blitz, but PR experts question effectiveness of campaign
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The Hong Kong government has spent HK$7.4 million so far on a global advertising campaign aimed at reassuring foreign investors and visitors the city was still a safe bet despite months of protest chaos, raising questions as to its effectiveness.
Stating they were “determined to achieve a peaceful, rational and reasonable resolution”, the government’s advert reassured the international community that Hong Kong remained “a safe, open, welcoming and cosmopolitan society and an internationally connected, vibrant and dynamic economy.”
In response to the Post’s question, the Information Services Department revealed the total advertising cost so far was about HK$7.4 million. The advert has been published in selected major overseas newspapers or magazines namely The Australian Financial Review, Financial Times, Washington Post, New York Times, Kyunghyang Shinmun in South Korea, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung in Germany, Globe and Mail in Canada, Le Monde in France and Nikkei in Japan, a spokesman said, adding bookings were still being processed.
